-- It was good to win a close game. Although the final score shows a 21-point victory, this game was tied after three quarters, and it was anyone's game. That should help next Saturday at home vs. Ohio State.

-- It was good to win a close game on the road. That should help in the season finale vs. Michigan State.

-- Let's be honest, folks: It did not look good for Penn State until Northwestern starting QB Mike Kafka injured himself while scrambling in the second quarter. He was just shredding the Penn State defense with his arm (14-18) and legs.

-- Graham Zug gets a pass for his two very costly drops, but if he has another bad game or even bad half next week, look for true freshman Justin Brown to take some of his plays. JoePa will not tolerate drops.

-- Northwestern backup QB Dan Persa, a sophomore from Bethlehem Liberty High School, finished with decent stats, and he had a couple really good runs. But Persa was not able to elude pressure as well as Kafka was able to. Plus Persa did not pass as accurately. To be fair to Persa, he was facing more heat in the second half, as Penn State seemed to turn it up a few notches.

-- Penn State punter Jeremy Boone was a major disappointment. He had two very short punts, and two other times he punted into the end zone while kicking from Northwestern territory. Just no excuse for that. It should not happen once, let alone twice. I wonder why Penn State never punts to the corner.

-- Penn State kicker Collin Wagner had a good game in going 2-for-2 on field goals. He still does not get depth on kickoffs, however he is good at directional kicking to the pylon area. That in theory is supposed to help with kickoff coverage, yet Northwestern did manage a long kickoff return late in the first half that set up a field goal.

-- Lion linebacker Sean Lee looks like he is back at full strength and full force and is going sideline-to-sideline. He has become a very punishing tackler, which was not the case his first year or two in the program.

-- Freshman nickel back Stephon Morris made a stupid late-hit penalty. After the hit, he compounded the error by looking at the official. That, of course, automatically clinches that a penalty will be called.

-- It's not so much that Evan Royster looks slow, it's just that he doesn't seem to have a burst. And he had that burst last year. Essentially, the Lions miss Stephfon Green as the change-of-pace back, as in a faster pace. Let's hope Green is back for Ohio State next week.

-- Meanwhile, Penn State's O-line was not very effective blocking for the run today.

-- Did you notice that Penn State gave sophomore Brandon Beachum his first carry of the game near the goal line for the game-winning TD? Beachum is faster than Royster, and Beachum also made an excellent cut on the short scoring run.

-- Did you also notice that after Royster was stuffed twice on third-and-one situations, the third time Daryll Clark made a successful QB sneak to get the first down?

-- Lion coaches needed to turn Clark loose earlier once they realized the run game wasn't working. Northwestern's secondary is among the worst in the Big Ten, and it was easy pickings once Clark started firing on first and second down.

-- TV announcers were saying that Clark wasn't varying his cadence or the snap count, and that enabled Northwestern D-line to get the jump on the Penn State O-line. Certainly looked that way.

-- Clark slipped and fell in the third quarter when wideout Derek Moye was apparently open for what would have been a long gain. It's possible even the Penn State equipment manager also was having a bad game, maybe having packed the wrong type of cleats.

-- Penn State had red-zone troubles, and that is disappointing at this time of the year. Where is the usage of the tight end down there?

-- Senior D-tackle Jared Odrick dominated the middle of the line for the Penn State defense. He also blocked a field goal try. He will be missed.

-- Had Kafka stayed in the game, he would have thrown for 350-400 yards. Not saying Northwestern would have won, but Penn State was lucky that Kafka got injured.

-- If I'm Ohio State's offensive coordinator, I am putting in as many plays as possible calling for short passes over the middle.

I still maintain that the Indiana touchdown that was overturned should have remained a touchdown.

As it turned out, Iowa turned it on in the fourth quarter, so credit due for that.

Nothing personal, but I just don't like your team. And yes, it has everything to do with that you have had Penn State's number this decade. So, call it sour grapes or whatever you want to call it, but I am entitled to say that I don't like your team.

I still believe Ohio State will beat your team. On the other hand, Kirk Ferentz is a nice guy who does not run up the score, you have won a lot of close games this year, and Terrelle Pryor is beatable.

Let us recount the stupid, idiotic, awful plays by an obviously uninspired Penn State football team during a first half that just ended with the Nittany Lions trailing, 13-10, to a big underdog in Northwestern -- a team that is playing inspired football thanks to its coaching staff.

This is Big Ten football, folks, and you can't just show up, walk onto the field and expect the other team to play dead.

The first-half roll call of miscues and mismanagement:

1) Graham Zug misses a would-be TD reception. Cost: 4 points.

2) Penn State makes delay of game penalty.

3) Penn State has 12-men on field before a would-be Northwestern punt which instead extends drive. Cost: 3 points on the Wildcat field goal and it leaves the Lion defense out there for 17 consecutive plays. Those D-linemen -- and linebackers -- will be gassed in the fourth quarter.

4) Missed sack and tackle on one play on NW QB Mike Kafka, who scrambled for a first down. (This was on the field-goal drive.)

5) Penn State's offense was stuffed twice -- and both times it wasn't even close -- on third-and-one runs by Evan Royster. That's pretty much what was happening the first part of the season.

6) Penn State is way too conservative on play-calling, at least until its final two drives of the half. It's like JoePa said to the coaches to just pound it down the Wildcats' throats, but that clearly is not working.

7) Lion D has way, way too many missed tackles.

8) Lion special teams gave up long kickoff return after their only TD. Cost: Field position.

9) Zug had another drop late in the first half on what would have been a 30-yard-plus pass play to midfield if not beyond. Cost: A likely field goal try.

10) Bad punt by Jeremy Boone moments later, and on top of that the punt was returned about 15 or 20 yards to set up a very short field for Northwestern. Cost: 3 points.

11) Penn State's middle pass defense has been awful, just awful. As the announcer said, that pass is there all day.

Folks, I have rarely seen a Penn State team so complacent and so uninspired. On top of that, Northwestern has had a couple of breaks, such as the fourth-down conversion on the punt attempt in which the punter dropped the ball. (Wasn't there an illegal man downfield? I don;t think it matters that the pass receiver was in the backfield, as they call illegal man downfield on screen passes.) And the Wildcats' long kickoff return came after the return man fumbled the ball but it bounced directly back off the ground and into his hands.

Now for the good news: Once JoePa allowed Galen Hall and the boys to open up the offense, they fared very well. Expect Clark to throw the ball 20+ times in the second half.

Also, Kafka apparently is out for the game. Backup sophomore Dan Persa, who is from Liberty High School, i s not as polished.

Also, Penn State gets the ball to start the second half, and I'd day the Lions need a score to reassert themselves.

Finally, Northwestern has to be good for an interception or two in the second half, maybe even a pick-six. Lions can really use a pick-six, as I don't recall their last one.

Is the fix in? Is the replay ref doing the Indiana at Iowa overdosing on Halloween candy? Well, obviously those are not true, but something smells in Iowa City.

Probably the worst overturned call I have ever seen occurred in the third quarter when the replay fool, er, ref overturned a would-be Indiana TD reception.

There is no way in hell that the evidence was conclusive enough to overturn the call on the field. It was clear to TV viewers that the receiver dragged his foot in the end zone and had the football secured for a TD. Yet, the referee overturned it, and, on the next play, fourth down, Indiana missed a field goal.

Earlier, an Indiana receiver caught the ball at the back of the end zone but it was ruled an incompletion. Replays showed the call could have gone either way, so the replay ref ruled the play on the field stood.

That should have occurred in the third quarter, but was not. There ought to be a Big Ten investigation, and a likely apology on Monday to Indiana. But what good is that?

As I write this early in the fourth quarter, Iowa leads by four points. The Hoosiers should be up by 20, the way they have outplayed the Hawkeyes.

But Iowa is lucky, damn lucky, and it rankles the hell out of me.

Why do Penn State fans care? Because an Iowa loss opens the door for an outright Big Ten title for Penn State. But we’re getting way ahead of ourselves.

Regardless of what happens today, I hope Ohio State beats Iowa by 50-0 in two weeks at the Horseshoe.

What to watch for: Northwestern defense is nothing special, so look for Penn State to call anything it wants on offense, and much of it should work. But will it result in touchdowns or turnovers, stalled drives and field goal attempts? ... Lion secondary will be tested by impressive Wildcat spread offense with dual-threat QB Mike Kafka leading the way. But Northwestern RBs are not a big threat. Indeed, hoping Lion defensive interior will essentially shut down the run and force Kafka into a 45-plus-pass game. That should lead to interceptions. ... Look for lots of D-linemen to rotate into the game for Penn State, as they will be chasing Kafka all evening. ... Wildcats have a good field goal kicker who also punts, but his punting is mediocre. ... Red alert: Northwestern blocked a punt last week in its 29-28 comeback victory over Indians.

Prediction: Northwestern comes up with turnovers and will have home-field edge. Meanwhile, Penn State could A) have a letdown after Michigan rout, B) be complacent and C) be looking ahead to Ohio State. Indeed, some might say that Penn State is due for a bad game, a listless effort, and it could result in a very uncomfortable game, especially if Penn State putzes around and keeps the Wildcats in the hunt. I don't think that will happen, as I'm looking for a two-score lead by halftime and counting on Daryll Clark to bring it home. Saying it another way: If the Lions are BCS bowl worthy, they have to dispatch these kinds of teams, home or on the road. Penn State 37, Northwestern 18.

Daryll Clark just won his fourth career Big Ten offensive player of the week award and is a semifinalist for the Unitas and Davey O’Brien postseason trophies. Yet his head coach was irked last week having to answer questions about Michigan quarterbacks Tate Forcier and Denard Robinson.

“Clark had to show that he could compare to a couple of freshmen,” Joe Paterno said this week. “Whether you guys [in the media] know it or not, you guys have a little bit of prejudice, and it shows.”

This is how Paterno normally begins his campaigns for his players. He did the same with Courtney Brown, Larry Johnson and Michael Robinson, noting in October that each was the best player at his position in the country, which wasn't paying any attention.

Often, though, Paterno's pronouncements on these matters come off awkwardly. No one in the Beaver Stadium media room Tuesday was under any impression that Michigan’s freshmen quarterbacks were better than Clark. However, they would be a unique challenge for Penn State’s defense, which had not seen such talented (and young) practitioners of the spread offense before. Which is why the questions were asked.

For an assessment of Clark, most reporters went to Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez, who couldn’t stop raving. “I think he’s one of the best quarterbacks in the country,” Rodriguez said.

It’s true that Clark doesn’t receive the national love (read: from ESPN) of other quarterbacks, who were anointed at a production meeting in July. But Penn State’s senior quarterback doesn’t lack for attention, either.

And, to his credit, Clark says he doesn’t care – except regarding the NFL draft. Projected in some mockups as a sixth- or seventh-round pick clearly gets under his skin.

“It is in the back of my mind,” he said. “But if they are saying sixth or seventh round, it could get way worse than that if I don’t finish the season the way we’re planning on doing it.”

Penn State is working on a four-game win streak, and its grades are moving up. The second tri-mester report card (grades cumulative):

OFFENSE

QUARTERBACKS: A-Daryll Clark is the man again. Had good rebound game vs. Illinois as coaches turned him loose with the run in second half. Showed escapability vs. Eastern Illinois, and, vs. Minnesota got time and essentially got his groove back, particularly on third down. Against Michigan, obviously, Clark stepped up big time with sharp passing in hostile setting. Has greatly reduced his bad passes and has been very accurate in short game. ... Backup Kevin Newsome -- vs. Eastern Illinois -- showed speed and was 4-for-5 throwing the ball but looked uncomfortable in pass game. … Third-stringer Matt McGloin a shaky 0-for-2 vs. EIU but they were the first passes of his career.

RUNNING BACKS: B.Evan Royster looked good vs. Illinois, but backup Stephfon Green looked better (quicker to the hole) and had key long TD run. Royster and Green took full advantage of big holes vs. Eastern Illinois. JoePa himself could have rumbled through some of those holes. … Royster seemed back to 2008 self vs. Minnesota, picking his way and breaking tackles. Royster had not been much of an option lately in pass game until Michigan. ... Green got hurt vs. Minny but before then made a nice run called back because of a penalty. ... Fullback Joe Suhey has made a lot of excellent blocks to spring Royster and Green, blocks both in the line and on the edge. Suhey was productive as backup runner vs. Michigan and is a nice safety valve in pass game. ... Third stringer Brandon Beachum showed some life with quick feet and toughness vs. Illinois and Minnesota, and was decent option vs. Michigan with Green out with an injury.

WIDE RECEIVERS: B.Combined stats for Derek Moye, Graham Zug and Chaz Powell are 80 receptions and 12 TDs, and that's pretty good for three first-year starters. In fact, it projects to 40 catches and 6 TD receptions per receiver for the season. Drops have curtailed, too. ... Game-by-game: Just OK vs. Illinois, and backup Brett Brackett didn't lay out for a long pass. Powell had nice grab or two vs. Eastern Illinois but several other passes were incompletions that could have been receptions if wideouts had shown aggressiveness to the ball. ... Moye had super game vs. Minnesota, including fabulous TD reception in end zone. ... Zug had three big TD receptions vs. Michigan on precise route-running and adjustments. … Zug and Moye, for my money, have the best hands and have made excellent grabs all year. … One thing still hanging out there is if wideouts will fare well vs. a strong secondary (see Iowa and see Ohio State).

TIGHT ENDS: A-.Dramatic improvement from 2008 to 2009 as starter Andrew Quarless realizing potential. Backup Mickey Shuler solid, too. Only complaint is they have not been better red-zone targets. ... The duo combined for eight receptions vs. Illinois and five vs. Minnesota to keep chains moving. ... Not much of a factor vs. Eastern Illinois but obviously were not needed. ... Quarless smacked Michigan for long catch-and-run TD and added another long reception. The TD gave Penn State a two-score lead it never surrendered. … Yes, tight end is a weapon that opposing defenses once again must game-plan for -- for the first time since 2006 when Quarless was a frosh.

LINE: C+.Major improvement over second trimester as Clark now gets time to pass and run stats are beginning to resemble those of last year. And line is doing so with the third different starter this year at right tackle in Ako Poti. The down side has been false start penalties and holding penalties, particularly in red zone. ... Game-by-game: After listless first half, line created not just seams but cavernous holes for RBs vs. Illinois. Lou Eliades and Dennis Landolt get credit for big hole for Green's long TD run vs. Illinois, the first score of the game. ... Again, opened big holes vs. Eastern Illinois and generally gave Clark time to pass. Had a couple false-start penalties in red zone. ... Clark had boatloads of time to pass vs. Minnesota, and also carved nice holes for Royster. But also had total of about five false starts and holding penalties. … Michigan game, of course, saw strong performance in run game, especially in second half, and good showing in pass protection.

DEFENSE

DEFENSIVE LINE: A-.Beat goes on for talented group led by tackles Jared Odrick and Ollie Ogbu. Tackle backup Devon Still (two tackles for loss for Michigan) a nice option in rotation, too. … D-ends also destructive, with Jack Crawford (3 TFL vs. Michigan) really coming into his own. … Senior Jerome Hayes starting for injured Eric Latimore and is effective. … Game-by-game: Poor first half vs. Illinois but stepped up in second, harassing QB into poor passing game. … Line just overwhelmed undermanned Eastern Illinois, while Odrick and Ogbu were major factors vs. Minnesota run game. Although line got good pressure on Gophers, it had only one sack. … Line vs. Michigan did well after Wolverines' first drive, getting frequently to Michigan QBs and throttling the run.

LINEBACKERS: A-.Navorro Bowman has roared back to 2008 form, while Josh Hull (at left) is making a name for himself. Injury to Sean Lee has hurt, but Bani Gbadyu has been fine, even forcing a fumble vs. Michigan. Unit also effective in pass coverage. … Game-by-game: Patchwork crew played fairly well after poor first half vs. Illinois, as Hull and Gbadyu combined for 19 tackles. ... Bowman had opportunistic fumble recovery and 91-yard return for a TD vs. Eastern Illinois, when backup Chris Colasanti (sack, 6 tackles) played well in his first significant action. … Seemed like Bowman played behind the line of scrimmage all game vs. Minnesota, including big assist on shutout-saving tackle. Hull had an excellent interception. … Bowman and Hull combined for 21 tackles vs. Michigan. Hull had 2.5 TFL while Bowman hit the trifecta: one sack, one interception and one fumble recovery.

SECONDARY: B+This overhauled unit has turned out just fine, thank you, helping in run support and shutting down elite receivers and passing attacks (and yes, even generally shoring up coverage over the middle). Only flaw seems to be that it needs tighter coverage on short passes. … Emergence of new cornerback starter A.J. Wallace (after 3-plus-year wait) has helped big-time. Other corner D'Anton Lynn also playing well. … Game-by-game: Good coverage vs. Illinois as limited dangerous wideout Arrelious Benn. Middle was exposed a couple times vs. Illinois, though. … Tested often vs. Eastern Illinois and did well. … Wallace had game of his career vs. Minnesota, getting credit for making wideout Eric Decker no factor. Wallace also made shutout-saving tackle of RB on sweep at goal line. Lynn also had fine game in coverage and run support. And safeties did not let tight ends go off. … Michigan pass attack was only 13-for-33, and coverage was good enough to allow time for D-line to make sacks. Yes, Lions are getting coverage sacks

SPECIAL TEAMS: C.Collin Wagner needs a stronger leg on kickoffs and field goals, but he is generally accurate (4-for-5 in FGs over last two games). … His kickoff depth, in fact, is very disappointing. But recent (last three games) better kickoff coverage by Lions has meant fewer drives for opposition starting outside the 30. … Punter Jeremy Boone great job punting vs. Illinois and remains a weapon. … Lions had blocked punt for Eastern Illinois to set up a TD. … Justin Brown had nice punt return in same game. … Lion returners twice allowed punts to roll for negative yardage vs. Minnesota. It's maddening. … Penn State kickoff returns mediocre until long KO return by Chaz Powell vs. Michigan. That was a backbreaker for Michigan. … Of course, blocked punt vs. Michigan is inexcusable. Obviously, opposition has seen something on film, Joe. … Evan Royster muffed a punt catch vs. Illinois and allowed another to roll 10 yards the wrong way. … Punt coverage still excellent, save for a 20-yarder by Michigan at end of first half.

COACHES: BFrom potential shipwreck to smooth sailing, and coaches get credit. Offensive line issues appear corrected (although Ohio State will have something to say about that). New secondary and wideout corps are doing well. Linebackers playing well despite injuries, and coaches have schemed well on offense and defense of late. … Game-by-game: Great halftime adjustment, noting Illinois defense, to have Daryll Clark run highly productive QB draws in second half. Excellent play calling vs. Illinois, too, using tight ends, screen pass and QB draw vs. blitzes, and also using fullback in flare pass. Good move to go to Stephfon Green in first half of game. Coaches also wisely ordered kickoffs away from dangerous returner Arrelious Benn. … Coaches had team prepared to roll over Division I-AA foe Eastern Illinois. Also good that most of second- and third-stringers saw significant playing time, including even rotating them into the game from the word go. … Coaches had excellent defensive game plan against potent Minnesota offense. Had superb play calling on offense on third down, as evident in two 80-yard-plus TD drives. Made good use of screen passes, short passes and throws to tight ends. But also had red zone woes and that falls on coaches. … Michigan win was testament to adjustments on defense after opening Wolverine TD drive. On offense, coaches shrewdly attacked vulnerable Michigan secondary, and then turned to run to keep clock going with big lead in second half. Coaches should have gone for extra point kick and not for two after scoring at top of third quarter to take 25-10 lead. There was too much time left in the game.

OVERALL GRADE: B+Still tough to get over the Iowa loss, but team has won four in a row, both the offense and defense are clicking, and a BCS bowl berth is there for the taking.

Penn State's Nov. 7 home game against Ohio State is scheduled for a 3:30 p.m. kickoff, the Big Ten announced Monday. The game, the 300th at Beaver Stadium, will be televised locally on ABC.

In addition, quarterback Daryll Clark was named the Big Ten's offensive player of the week. Clark completed 16 of 27 passes for 230 yards and four touchdowns in the Lions' 35-10 win at Michigan. It is Clark's second award this season and fourth of his career.

With 17 touchdown passes this season, Clark leads the Big Ten and ranks third nationally. He also broke Zack Mills' school record for most touchdowns responsible in a career. Clark has 55 total touchdowns (36 passing, 19 rushing) in his career.

Penn State rose one spot to No. 12 in the latest BCS standings. The Lions were rated consistently by the computers, with five gauging them at 13 and one at No. 12.

They likely got a boost not only from their 35-10 win over Michigan but also from Iowa's win at Michigan State. The Hawkeyes climbed from No. 6 to No. 4, primarily because of their love from the computers.

Iowa is ranked 8th in both the Harris and USA Today polls but first by the computers. Five of the six BCS computer rankings have Iowa first, with the last placing it fourth (the highest and lowest rankings are dropped). The Hawkeyes trail Florida, Alabama and Texas on the road to Pasadena.

• The Nittany Lion defense is ranked in the Top 10 nationally in all the major statistical categories: scoring (1st), rushing (4th), passing (9th) and total defense (3rd), as wellasTFL (4th) and sacks (T 8th).

• Michigan entered the game leading the Big Ten in scoring at 37.3 ppg and was held to a season-low 10 points, 27 below its average. The Wolverines’ previous season low for scoring had been 20 points at Michigan State.

• Michigan entered the game leading the Big Ten in rushing at 235.0 ypg, but was limited to 110 yards on 40 carries (2.8 avg.). After its first possession, the Wolverines were held to 74 rushing yards the rest of the game.

• The Lions held Michigan to a season-low 250 yards, 176 yards below its season total average of 426.6 ypg.

• After Michigan’s initial drive of 70 yards, the Nittany Lions held the Wolverines to 96 yards on their next 11 possessions.

• Clark moved into fifth place in Penn State career total offense with 5,163 yards, moving past Anthony Morelli (5,154) and Chuck Fusina (5,162). Michael Robinson is fourth at 5,168.

• Graham Zug made a career-high three touchdown catches on the day, the first Penn State player to catch three in a game since Deon Butler vs. Michigan State last season. Butler, now a member of the Seattle Seahawks, was on the sidelines for Saturday’s game at Michigan Stadium.

The same route worked twice against Michigan, as unlikely as it might seem. Just a post-corner to the pylon, and Graham Zug turned it into two touchdowns.

“I just listened to [receivers coach Mike McQueary] and ran the routes he taught me how to run,” the soft-spoken Zug said Saturday.

It’s time to spotlight the redshirt junior receiver who has been one of Penn State’s top targets all season. After catching a career-high three touchdown passes against Michigan, Zug finally got some of the credit he deserves.

“He’s very, very steady football player,” Penn State coach Joe Paterno said. “He’s a very smart kid. He isn’t one of those guys that, when you put a clock on him, he lights you up, but he knows how to run routes, he’s got really good hands and he’s a good competitor.”

Zug has 26 catches this season, second on the team, and now leads with five touchdowns receptions. He beat Michigan defensive backs twice with the same simple end-zone route, which he ran with precision.

But Zug also can improvise, which he did on a third-quarter scoring route. Instead of continuing his play to the end-zone corner, Zug read the coverage and curled below Michigan cornerback Donovan Warren. Quarterback Daryll Clark hit Zug for an easy score.

“He’s uncanny in both his body position and the way he gets leverage on guys,” quarterbacks coach Jay Paterno said.

After the game, Zug was introduced to a nickname that has been floating around: Amish Lightning. The Manheim Central High graduate shrugged.

“Whatever you guys want to say,” Zug said, laughing.

With the kind of season he's having, Zug deserves to be taken more seriously.

-- Quarterback Daryll Clark was the man, playing the way a senior and co-captain should play.

-- Probably was good that Michigan drove for a quick, relatively easy score on the first possession of the game. That meant Penn State would have to play to win, not to lose, and would use all of its weapons on offense.

-- I still hate Michigan.

-- Penn State's wideouts were able to gain separation.

-- Lion coaches deserve major credit for calling an excellent passing game. Wideout Graham Zug scored two of his TDs on what appeared to be the same play.

-- I still hate Michigan.

-- Linebackers Josh Hull and Navorro Bowman were major forces, combining for 21 tackles. Hull's total included 2.5 for losses.

-- Penn State's secondary is better than we think -- possibly much better than we think now that A.J. Wallace is playing to his talent level. (We know Penn State's D-line is good, and that D-coordinator Tom Bradley is very good.)

-- I still hate Michigan.

-- Andrew Quarless could be back on NFL scouts' radar.

-- It's just nice to be on the plus side of the turnover ledger. It's like receiving a gift for no reason.

-- I still hate Michigan.

-- Lion special teams were 2-for-2 on field goals, while Chaz Powell's long second-half kickoff return and resultant short TD drive dashed Michigan comeback hopes.

-- Lions' second punt block this season is maddening. Do something about that, Joe, as there obviously is a protection gap. But ...

Arrived here at Michigan Stadium (where the renovation is hardly finished) after a day of curious encounters.

First, the Marriott Ypsilanti was hectic this morning, with two football teams and celebrities galore (the hotel is Eastern Michigan’s normal pre-game location).

But if he was lucky, Penn State coach Joe Paterno could have caught a moment with Ed Helms at the hotel breakfast buffet. Helms, I’m told, plays Andy in The Office (which I don’t watch), but I did recognize him as Stu from the movie The Hangover.

Even better: There’s a piano in the Marriott lobby, so Paterno could have asked Helms to sing the “Doug Song.” Wouldn’t that have been priceless?

Hey, Helms, could you do the song with the line, ‘And then we’re gonna find our best friend Doug, and then we’re gonna give him a best friend hug'?

Alas, the last movie Paterno saw was Titanic, so it wouldn’t have mattered. And Helms was eating breakfast with a couple pale-skinned theater types, so they probably wouldn’t have recognized the football coach, anyway.

Later, upon arriving at the newly half-remodeled Michigan Stadium, media members had their laptop bags searched not by security guards but by a police dog. Good thing the nice fella didn’t sniff out the sandwich I smuggled in, because the bratwurst here has been cooking since Bo Schembechler was hired.

As for the game, the weather is cold and windy, which might be why we saw Paterno ripping pages out of the playbook this morning (kidding). There are 11 true freshmen on the travel roster, and the one who likely will get the best workout is cornerback Stephon Green. Penn State is going to need its fastest nickel defense on the field for much of the game, so watch for Morris

Running back Stephfon Green will not travel to Michigan for Saturday’s game because of an aggravated ankle injury, head coach Joe Paterno said on his radio show tonight. Green has not practiced this week and still is wearing a protective boot after re-injuring the ankle against Minnesota.

Brandon Beachum, who has shifted between fullback and tailback, will be the No. 2 back behind starter Evan Royster, with Brent Carter getting third-team snaps. Paterno also said that linebacker Michael Zordich has been shifted to fullback to add depth behind Joe Suhey.

Paterno began the show in a bit of a foul mood, the product of some post-practice anger management. Thursday is a litmus-test practice for Paterno, who sets the final roster travel today, and he came way displeased.

“I wasn’t overjoyed with what happened today,” Paterno said. “I don’t think we had a lot of enthusiasm.”

As for Michigan, coach Rich Rodriguez said he expects running backs Brandon Minor (ankle) and Carlos Brown (concussion) to be in the lineup. Minor is the key back, having run for 117 yards against the Lions last year. On the offensive line, center David Molk will be back after missing the last four games with a foot injury.

TV: ABC for all of Northeast U.S. and much of Midwest. Elsewhere: ESPN.

Radio: Penn State Radio Network, including WAEB-AM 790, Allentown.

What to watch for: Linebackers, especially Josh Hull in the middle, are on the spot to stop Brandon Minor, Carlos Brown and the Michigan run game. … See if Lion D-ends maintain containment vs. freshman QB Tate Forcier, who will make plays on the run. … Will Michigan backup QB Denard Robinson break off a long run? … Expect Michigan D-end Brandon Graham to pressure Lion QB Daryll Clark (at left), so how will Penn State adjust in order to give Clark time to throw? If Clark does get time, expect him to have a good game, particularly with short passes. … Michigan run defense will be better than what you might think for a team giving up 22 points a game. Indeed, how well will Brandon Beachum/Brent Carter/Joe Suhey fare at spelling Evan Royster? … Hoping for a good game from placekicker Collin Wagner because Lions cannot leave any points behind.

Prediction: If it's a close game, Forcier has shown he can come through at the end, while Penn State has not won many close games in recent years. And this game is at Michigan. That's the bad news. The good news: I'm counting on Penn State's defense and I'm counting on Clark, a senior, to outplay his freshman counterpart Forcier because the Lions will definitely need some offense. This is a big-stage game and it's time for the Penn State co-captain to perform well in such a game on the road. Penn State 23, Michigan 20.

Linebacker Sean Lee today was named one of 16 semifinalists for the 25th annual Dick Butkus Award, which goes to the nation's top linebacker.

The senior and co-captain started out strong, but has been battling a knee injury the past month.

Junior linebacker Navorro Bowman is not a semifinalist. Some would say that Bowman, even though he also has had injury woes, has had a better year to date than Lee (pictured last Saturday vs. Minnesota).

To be sure, both are playmakers.

Other Big Ten Butkus Award semifinalists are Greg Jones of Michigan State and Obi Ezeh of Michigan.

Penn State has two Butkus Award winners: LaVar Arrington in 1999 and Paul Posluszny in 2005. Both were juniors when they won the award.

Also of note: Two Penn State recruits in the Class of 2010 are nominees for the Butkus High School Award: Khairi Fortt of Stamford, Conn., and Dakota Royer of Manheim Central in Lancaster County.

Rita Rodriguez met her future husband Rich on the West Virginia football field, where he was a defensive back and she was a cheerleader. Joe Paterno took notice of her, too.

“I kid her that I flirted with her when I was on the sidelines, but she didn’t pay any attention to me,” the Penn State head coach said.

Turns out, Rita Rodriguez did. Rich, now the head coach at Michigan, told a story about it this week.

“It was '84. We hadn't beat 'em in 27 years. We were fortunate to get that one. That was a good game for us. But my wife was a cheerleader. She grew up in Jane Lew, West Virginia. Afterwards, she went up to Coach Paterno during warmups, said, ‘In the spirit of good sportsmanship, would you mind taking a picture with my cheerleaders and myself?’ He was like the biggest celebrity she had ever met. He was a celebrity. This was 1984. JoePa with a group of cheerleaders, he agreed to do that. We still talk about that, still laugh about that, on trips. Whenever we see each other, he still gives Rita a big hug and laughs about that, when Rita tells the story.”

Rita Rodriguez told the Detroit Free Press this week that she plans to dig up the photo before Saturday’s game. Look for it on the ABC broadcast.

Linebacker Sean Lee is practicing this week and could see an expanded role Saturday against Michigan if his knee continues to improve.

Lee said he “tweaked” his sprained left knee in the second half against Minnesota and did not play afterward as a precautionary measure. Those tweaks likely will continue as the season progresses, Lee said, but otherwise he expects his role to expand.

“We’ll see as we get closer to game time,” said Lee, who had two tackles against Minnesota, both for third-down stops. “If the leg is feeling good, I think I’ll be out there more.”

Quarterback Daryll Clark said this week’s backfield rotation includes Brandon Beachum and Brent Carter as the primary backups to Evan Royster. Stephfon Green likely will be limited against the Wolverines after re-aggravating his chronic ankle injury against Minnesota.

Clark also said that head coach Joe Paterno has pointedly reminded his team about the need for limiting penalties. The Lions drew a season-high nine flags against Minnesota, including eight by the offense.

Sports Illustrated is featuring Joe Paterno in an eight-page spread in the issue that comes out this week.

I can't find a link to the story yet, but here is what Penn State says about the article:

"Penn State coach Joe Paterno is featured in this week's issue of Sports Illustrated, which hits news stands Wednesday. Sports Illustrated Senior Writer Joe Posnanski takes an in-depth look at the life, family and career of Paterno in eight pages of the magazine's NBA Preview issue. Posnanski's profile on the legendary coach is an elongated thank-you note to Joe's father, Angelo, who allowed Joe to forgo a career as a lawyer and follow his passion -- for 60 years and counting."

After Penn State’s win over Minnesota, running back Evan Royster inadvertently began churning the surf for Saturday's game at Michigan, where the Lions have not won since 1996.

“I think we feel we’re the better team, and we can go out there and still beat them,” Royster said.

It was an innocuous bit of trash talk – of course players think their teams are better – but also the kind that can be dangled in front of opposing players for a response. Michigan defensive end Brandon Graham took the bait.

“He’s going to have to show it,” Graham said when asked about Royster’s comment. “They have to come hard, because we are going to come harder. I just don’t think they really know how much we’ve prepared and how much we’ve been waiting for this game since last year. If he feels pretty confident, he had better be prepared.”

Last year, the Wolverines led Penn State 17-14 at halftime before getting overwhelmed in the second half of a 46-17 loss.

“We had them last year,” Graham said, “we just didn’t finish the game. The score might not say we a chance, but we were leading after the first half, and to lose, it was just not acceptable.”

Penn State Athletic Director Tim Curley today wrote a letter to Penn State fans, thanking them for their cooperation Saturday at the Nittany Lions' homecoming game with Minnesota. As we know, the freak October snowstorm forced the closure of the grass parking lots at Beaver Stadium, and tens of thousands of fans had to park elsewhere in State College and be bused to the game. Tailgating was banned, as well.

The letter:

An Open Letter from Penn State Athletic Director Tim Curley

October 19, 2009

The 48 hours leading into and including Penn State Homecoming 2009 were extraordinary, tosay the least.

Extraordinary weather seemed to be only the root of what soon grew into extraordinaryplanning, extraordinary effort, extraordinary cooperation, and in the end, extraordinary fansshowing an extraordinary understanding for the circumstances we found ourselves in as ourcommunity, our campus and our athletic department prepared for another Penn State NittanyLion home football game. Of course, a full slate of Homecoming activities surrounded thisparticular game as well.

First, on behalf of Penn State University and Intercollegiate Athletics, thanks to our neighboringcommunities and businesses that accommodated the tens of thousands of fans that came intotown and occupied your parking lots. We realize that some of you in the area did not volunteerto do so, but found your lots gradually filling up with our patrons instead of yours. Whethervolunteering to serve as a game day parking lot or not, we’re grateful for your patience andhospitality, especially on top of cancelled schools, toppled trees and lost power in surroundingareas. We likely added to an already heavy dose of inconvenience.

Our parking and transportation partners also made some big plays for us on Saturday. Withless than 24‐hours notice, they provided more than 50 shuttle buses that ran to more than adozen different pick‐up and drop‐off points on the outskirts of campus. Thank you to all whocoordinated the routes and did the driving. We’ve heard some terrific feedback from thosewho reluctantly took the shuttles, but ended up very appreciative that they did.

Additionally, the teams of people off the field that did all in their power to make sure the teamson the field had a world‐class playing field. Our field and stadium crews went round‐the‐clockin assuring that Beaver Stadium was as cleaned up and shoveled off as time would allow. Weknow there was still some snow in the stands, but the players had a tremendous surface to playon, and all of our fans in the stands had a place to sit.

Finally, to our fans – comprised of alumni, students, faculty, staff and friends and neighborsfrom all corners of the country – Thank You. We’re grateful that you saw what we were upagainst, and frankly, you gave to our staff what you typically give to Coach Paterno and theteam each week – your faith that we would do our best for you.

We know that there was inconvenience on Saturday. We apologize for that. We also know thatwe can do some things differently if and when similar conditions arise again, and we will. But we also know that were it not for an extraordinary batch of weather, we would not havewitnessed together the extraordinary depth of passion and pride that brings Penn Staterstogether, regardless of how extraordinary the circumstances.

Penn State's 20th commitment in the Class of 2010 occurred over the weekend when offensive tackle Khamrone Kolb of Virginal verbaled for the Nittany Lions.

Rivals.com and Scout.com both rank Penn State's recruiting class as second in the nation. Rivals.com rates Texas as No. 1, while Scout.com has Oklahoma at No. 1.

Kolb is a 3-star from Burke, Va., who is 6-6, 300 and apparently very athletic. He also had offers from Wisconsin, Virginia Tech, Syracuse, North Carolina, Maryland and UConn, among others.

Penn State still has designs on landing a couple more recruits, including 5-star defensive tackle Sharrif Floyd from Philadelphia, 4-star D-tackle Mike Thornton of Georgia and 5-star running back Marcus Lattimore of South Carolina. Thornton could be an LJ Special: Larry Johnson Sr. is recruiting him.

Blog reader Dean comments that Penn State's students do not come out in full force unless the weather is nice and the opponent is a good team.

Now, I am no longer a Penn State student, and I don't play one on TV, either. But Dean has a good point/ Why is the student section not packed every game? Why are the top 20 to 30 rows practically empty for most kickoffs -- even if they fill in later, which did not happen Saturday vs. Minnesota. Seeing those empty seats on TV is an embarrassment for a university that takes pride in saying it has the best student section in the nation. (And remember, student tickets sell out in hours once they go on sale every summer. It's not like there is no demand.)

There are excuses I could offer:

(1) A noon start is too early for college kids to get to the stadium on time, particularly after drinking all Friday night.

(2) The opposition for most games is hardly compelling.

(3) The weather has been nasty.

(4) Not every game can be a Whiteout.

But, in the end, they all are excuses.

Perhaps Penn State should adopt West Virginia's policy. If a WVU student buys a ticket and doesn't show up to the game, he or she loses the tickets for future games. (They may be able to miss one game, but not two, as I'm not certain on the particulars.)

Penn State should do something, because those empty seats are across from the primary TV camera for broadcasts. It just looks bad.

Notes from a rainy Beaver Stadium following Penn State’s 20-0 victory over Minnesota.

--Receiver Derek Moye (pictured) said he wasn't sure whether his 12-yard catch late in the second quarter was a touchdown until he saw several replays on the Beaver Stadium bigscreen. An official review overturned the call on the field of incomplete, giving Penn State the touchdown and a 13-0 halftime lead.

"I've always been for instant replay," head coach Joe Paterno said. "I was the one guy who started griping about it way back. If we had instant replay, we would have won two games when [former receiver] Tony Johnson was inbounds and they called him out of bounds in a big game [at Michigan in 2002]. And we had another one. I started screaming for [instant replay] then."

--Running back Stephfon Green sustained an ankle injury late in the first half and did not return. Paterno did not know Green’s status after the game. Brandon Beachum carried four times for 20 yards in Green’s place.

--Linebacker Sean Lee said he tweaked his sprained right knee in the second half and did not play afterward as a precaution. Lee, who has missed the last three games because of the injury, played mostly on third downs, making two tackles to prevent first downs. He also was a little confused by the personal-foul call on his first play of the game.

“I was frustrated because it was 15 yards and should have been a [third-down] stop,” Lee said. “At the same time, I was just reacting and playing football, and I wouldn’t take it back.”

--Paterno said he challenged cornerback A.J. Wallace to step up and defend Minnesota’s Eric Decker, the Big Ten’s leading receiver. Wallace responded, as the Lions held Decker to a season-low one catch (a 42-yard on which Wallace was not in coverage) and limited Minnesota to throwing in Decker’s direction just five times.

Still, it was odd that Minnesota didn’t take more chances in Decker’s direction, particularly after the big play over the middle. Wallace wasn’t exactly playing press coverage, though the Lions were rotating their safeties in his direction.

“We know that we are going to see two and three defenders in zone coverages, and they are going to slant to Decker,” Minnesota coach Tim Brewster said. “We’ve got to make some plays in other areas.”

Wallace also made one of the best defensive plays of his career, stopping Minnesota running back Kevin Whaley short of the goal line on a fourth-quarter fourth-and-goal.

“We’ve been waiting for A.J. to step up like that,” Lee said. “That’s as physical as I’ve seen him play. With his talent, he should play like that every week.”

--The next team to score a first-half touchdown against Penn State will be the first. Opposing teams have scored just 11 first-half points against the Lions this season, and two of those came on a safety against Iowa. Minnesota had just two first downs, 20 offensive plays and 38 total yards in the first half.

“Penn State’s defense is outstanding,” Brewster said. “…Penn State was better than we were today, and Joe Paterno was better than I was today.”

--Running back Evan Royster, who rushed 23 times for 137 yards, said he could see Minnesota getting tired and deflated at Penn State’s third-down conversions. The Lions converted 11 of 17 third downs.

“You could see it in their eyes, like they were saying, ‘We don’t know how to stop them,” Royster said. “It’s a good feeling when you see that in their eyes.”

--Not a good feeling? The season-high nine penalties. Penn State entered the game as the Big Ten’s least penalized team, but that changed with this game. And the defense wasn’t to blame: The offense committed eight of the nine penalties, with Lee’s questionable personal foul the only call on the defense.

“Most of them were legitimate calls,” offensive tackle Dennis Landolt said. “We just can’t make mistakes like that, because if it was a real tight game, you’re giving up field position and sometimes stalling drives. We get a little frustrated with ourselves, because you can’t do that.”

Quite an impressive performance today by the Penn State defense, and we'll start with the secondary, which shut down Minnesota star wideout Eric Decker, save for one long reception.

I think we can say the Nittany Lion cornerbacks are good and that the safeties are good in run support and OK if not better in pass coverage.

Corners D'Anton Lynn and A.J. Wallace and the defensive scheme get credit for shackling the Gopher wideouts. Penn State's D-line got some pressure but not as much as I would have liked, and certainly did not have a big day in terms of sacks. So to shut down the Minny pass game, that means the coverage must have been good to excellent.

The D-line, particularly Jared Odrick and Ollie Ogbu, and outside linebacker Navorro Bowman were keys to halting Minnesota's run game in its frozen tracks.

As for the Penn State offense, like Willy Loman in Death of A Salesman, the Lions had problems closing the deal. This game had the look of Iowa, what with Penn State dominating the first half and leading just by six points late in the second quarter until Derek Moye made that great TD reception at the sideline.

Other thoughts:

-- Moye had one drop but otherwise had a big game. His TD reception was a beauty. Penn State's wideouts played well, often smartly adjusting to passes that floated or were underthrown.

-- Inside linebacker Josh Hull made a really nice interception and was involved in some tackles for limited gain. Can't believe I typed that sentence.

-- Also can't believe that I'm saying that Penn State had some smart play-calls on offense that worked on third down, such as screen passes and short passes to the tight end.

-- Having said that, the red zone offense needs work. Play calling was suspect a couple of times, and other times penalties were the problem. In particular, the offensive line, despite giving Daryll Clark lots of time to pass all game, had about five penalties, with several in the red zone. Awful.

-- Lion kickoff coverage was superb, and Gophers are a good special teams outfit. Still want to see Collin Wagner get more depth on kickoffs.

-- Evan Royster ran very well, breaking lots of tackles and cutting fairly well. Just wish he had home run speed.

-- Nice to see junior Brett Brackett coaching up freshman wideout Justin Brown on the sideline after Brown and Clark failed to connect on a red-zone pass attempt. Why? Because Brown is taking Brackett's time on the field.

-- RB Stephfon Green didn't play after injuring his foot. Lions will need his change of pace next week at the Big House.

-- Now, about the officiating. Penn State had a phantom holding call charged against it, and certainly Sean Lee did not deserve a "high hit" penalty when his shoulder pad hit the receiver's shoulder pad in the game's first series. Also, the officials should have ruled a Graham Zug catch and the Moye TD reception as successful completions -- not incompletions -- the first time around. Amazingly, both were overturned and ruled as receptions. But, I repeat, get it right the first time.

-- The officials also blew it when they charged the Minnesota defensive back with pass interference on a deep pass to Moye. Either there was incidental contact or no contact when Moye tripped. Awful.

-- Officials also messed up when they ruled Gopher QB Adam Weber fumbled at the goal line. That call was correctly overturned, but get it right the first time, because if there is not indisputable evidence to overturn it, the bad call stands.

-- It just amazes me how officials at this level can consistently mess up. And, I think, until this season, the officiating had been pretty good in the Big Ten over the past couple years.

-- Meanwhile, I think there's still one second left on the clock at South Bend. And at Ohio State, they're still not warming up the backup QB.

The snow is still falling in State College, and it should turn to rain before kickoff. The resultant poor field conditions could be trouble for Penn State's pass defense as it tries to contain Minnesota wide receiver Eric Decker.

It is said that the receiver has the advantage in slippery conditions, and that should help Decker, one of the Big Ten's top playmakers. I guess we'll find out a little bit more today about Penn State's cornerbacks.

Meanwhile, we already know what kind of problems Penn State's offense had in the rain vs. Iowa.

Again, Minnesota's defense is not Iowa's. But it's still something to think about.

ELSEWHERE ...

Don't count out Wisconsin, which is leading Iowa at halftime, 10-3, in the Big Ten title race. Should the Badgers hang onto that lead today, they will have a decent chance to finish the Big Ten season with a 7-1 record. And that could be good enough for a share of first place.

Penn State’s first Whiteout of the season was disrupted by a driving rain storm. For an encore, try this: Potentially a foot of snow, and no tailgating, on Homecoming.

Centre County’s earliest measurable snowfall ever not only will alter Saturday’s gameday experience outside Beaver Stadium but also could affect the game between Penn State and Minnesota. At the very least, it might equalize some of the crowd benefit a Homecoming game can provide.

Through today, 4.7 inches of snow were reported in State College, the most ever in October, with another 2-8 projected overnight and into Saturday morning. As a result, the university closed the grass lots surrounding Beaver Stadium and suspended tailgating prior to Saturday’s 3:30 p.m. start. In addition, Penn State also closed the Paternoville student tent village outside the stadium.

Gameday parking will be limited to paved lots, where tents and tailgates will not be allowed to maximize space. Those driving RVs to the game could be redirected as well.

In total, more than 20,000 parking spots will be lost because of the closings, and the university is partnering with area businesses to provide more parking from which to shuttle fans to the game.

“The grass lots are closed mainly for safety reasons,” Penn State said in a release. “The ground was not yet frozen, and the amount of slushy snow that has fallen has turned the lots muddy. There already is close to a half-foot of snow on these lots, with up to an additional half foot or so being forecast, making the lots impassable and treacherous to motor vehicle traffic.”

The university also is cautioning fans that stadium seats and walkways will be snow-covered and slippery.

This is the second home game in a month affected by the weather. Penn State’s stadium-wide Whiteout was subdued three weeks ago because of rain.

One positive note: Tonight’s Homecoming parade will be held as scheduled.

Joe Paterno said linebacker Sean Lee has practiced all week and could see action Saturday against Minnesota.

“He’s making really good progress,” Paterno said on his weekly radio show. “He practiced every day this week, but not the whole practice. The doctors will make the decision whether he can go without jeopardizing himself permanently.

“Which way [will team doctors decide]? If I had to make a bet, I’d bet he’s going to play some Saturday.”

Lee, who has missed the past three games with a sprained knee, said earlier this week that he expected to play. When he does return, Lee will wear a knee brace, which he’ll have for the remainder of the season.

“How much he plays will depend on whether he gets tired, and the emotion of the game,” Paterno said. “If he gets carried away a little bit, we’ll get concerned that he might do too much on that leg. We don’t want him to do too much to where he gets tired and goes backward.”

Charges against Scott eventually were dropped, and his suit alleges his chances for an NFL career were ruined by the allegation and prosecution.

The year 2007 was Scott's final year of eligibility with Penn State. He did not play after the allegations were made early in the season. Scott signed as a free agent with the Cleveland Browns in 2008 but did not make the team, and he was not in an NFL camp this year.

What to watch for: D'Anton Lynn and/or A.J. Wallace, the likely candidates at cornerback, to hold dynamic Minnesota wideout Eric Decker to about seven catches, 85 yards and, at most, one TD reception. ... Expect Penn State D-line to pressure Gopher QB Adam Weber, who should be good for an interception or two. ... Hoping LB Sean Lee plays and has a dominating game, which is needed because Minny also has a run threat in Duane Bennett and DeLeon Eskridge. ... Gopher defense is suspect, so Penn State run game should produce and help with pass game. ... Minnesota likely has edge in special teams, except for punting.

Prediction: Just not convinced that Minnesota is good (which I also said about Iowa). But Gophers' track record shows tight games with Syracuse and Air Force this year, and they don't have the stout defense that Iowa had. Rain is a wild card, and if Gophers stop the run, look out -- but I still like the Lions. Penn State 30, Minnesota 17.

-- Iowa, unfortunately, is looking like a no-more-than-one-loss team, as Ohio State will be favored when the two teams meet at the Shoe on Nov. 14. Hawkeyes do have potential losses at Wisconsin and at Michigan State, however, the next two Saturdays. (And people forget Iowa almost lost to Northern Iowa on a last-play field goal in its opener.)

-- Ohio State, meanwhile, has potential losses on the road at Penn State, at home vs. Iowa and on the road at Michigan.

On to the Phillies and baseball:

-- Ryan Howard is one clutch hitter. If they were voting today, he'd be National League MVP.

-- Thought I was watching the Phillies' bullpen -- and not the Rockies' relievers blow up -- in the top of the ninth inning tonight. Can't believe Colorado didn't use a left-hander to pitch to Howard.

-- Of course, the only reason the Phillies had to rally is because the Philly bullpen was gouged for three runs in the bottom of the eighth.

-- And you can't blame the Phillies' bullpen eighth-inning screw-up on Brad Lidge. You can blame Ryan Madson, Jimmy Rollins for his error and the umpires for allowing the Rockie baserunner to distract and possibly bump Chase Utley while leaping over the Phillie second baseman as he was making a play on a ground ball.

-- I can't stand how umpires have expanded the width of the strike zone, so much so that even TV announcers have bought into it. Case in point: Chase Utley tonight took a pitch that the announcer said "just missed." Replay, of course, showed the pitch was a foot outside.

-- Few people like Charlie Manuel, but he continues to make the right moves.

Penn State's Oct. 24 game at Michigan will kick off at 3:30 p.m. on ABC/ESPN. The 14th-ranked Lions (5-1) will attempt to break a five-game losing streak at Michigan Stadium, where they haven't won since 1996.

Penn State's next three games are scheduled for mid-afternoon kickoffs: Minnesota and Michigan are at 3:30 EST, and the Oct. 31 game at Northwestern is set for 4:30 EST.

Times for the final three games (home against Ohio State and Indiana and at Michigan State) have not been determined.

After Saturday’s game, coaches Joe Paterno and Bob Spoo met for what proved to be a genial discussion. In fact, Spoo made it sound like Paterno asked him on a date.

“I wished him continued good health, and he mentioned something about hoping that, at some point and time, we could spend a little more time together," Spoo said. "That was it. He’s a good man.”

So is Spoo, and his team was done a disservice in having to be a seat-filler on Penn State’s dance card. Eastern Illinois is a well-coached team that will contend for a spot in the FCS playoffs. But there’s a reason its 10 transfers from BCS-conference schools are on the roster.

“They just outmuscled us, I thought,” Spoo said. “They controlled just about anything. That was the basis. We just couldn’t block them, couldn’t tackle them.”

For Penn State, that part of the schedule is over. The Lions (No. 13 AP, No. 14 Coaches) have six games remaining, five of which look to be competitive. Minnesota is the first.

The Gophers went through the season’s first month with one offensive weapon, receiver Eric Decker, and a bumbling mess behind him. But on Saturday, Minnesota was bound and determined to get the run game going against Purdue. The team ran for a season-high 207 yards and four touchdowns (on 44 attempts) in a 35-20 victory. Decker had just three receptions, as the Gophers threw only nine times.

Penn State should be able to handle a run game that feasted on Purdue, but what about Decker? The Big Ten’s leading is a 6-3 target averages eight catches and 114 yards per game. He’s probably salivating over the Lions’ soft zone.

“We have to be able to strap him down,” Penn State cornerback Knowledge Timmons said. “From what I saw, there’s no corner who can slow him to a few catches.”

Though the game was over quickly, there were a few noteworthy items for Penn State.

The move of freshman Gerald Hodges from safety to outside linebacker is curious and begs the question about the health of Sean Lee. The Lions clearly are looking for bodies at a position that has seen Lee, Navorro Bowman, Nate Stupar and Bani Gbadyu lose playing time to injuries (not to mention the torn ACL that sidelined Mike Mauti for the season).

How are the ankles at right tackle doing? The only player to go the distance was Ako Poti, the No. 3 right tackle behind Nerraw McCormack and DeOn’tae Pannell, both of whom have ankle injuries. This position has struggled enough without going that far on the depth chart.

Backup punter Ryan Breen sent a second-half kickoff into the end zone for a touchback. Starting kicker Collin Wagner had eight chances and couldn’t get one back there. Perhaps it’s time for a competition for the kickoff role.

After the game, an elderly man in a wheelchair was a guest in the media room, where he gleefully snapped pictures of Paterno. When the head coach signed a football, the man replied, “Thanks for completing my bucket list.”

Quarterback Daryll Clark and linebacker Navorro Bowman each made signature plays in the Lions' 52-3 win over Eastern Illinois on Saturday.

Clark threw a 51-yard touchdown pass to Chaz Powell in the second quarter, marking the second time this season they have linked for a passing touchdown longer than 50 yards. Here's how Clark broke it down.

In addition, linebacker Navorro Bowman returned a fumble recover 91 yards for a score, which was Penn State's longest fumble return for a touchdown since the NCAA began allowing them in 1990. Listen to Bowman describe his winded run.

Observations from a day and night watching college football (when I should have been doing yard work).

-- I wouldn't want to face the Florida defense. Not sure that an all-star team from the Raiders, Chiefs, Rams and Buccaneers could score on the Gators.

-- Although Michigan lost Saturday at Iowa, the Wolverines have several players that will be trouble for Penn State's defense in QB Tate Forcier, RB Brandon Minor and backup QB Denard Robinson.

-- The entire Ohio State defense will be trouble vs. Penn State. Could have nightmares of the Buckeye defensive front manhandling the Lions' O-line.

-- On the other hand, Ohio State's offense is only average. And Terrelle Pryor as a passer looks less than average. (Wonder if Pryor is going to turn out to be another Juice Williams? I mean, if I'm Jim Tressel, I'm giving the backup QBs more reps in practice.)

-- Wisconsin's defense sure was hot-dogging a lot for a team that lost by 18 points to Ohio State.

-- In the past 10 years, I have cheered for a Florida State win perhaps twice. I found myself feeling sorry for Bobby Bowden on Saturday night and, although not necessarily rooting for a Florida State loss to Georgia Tech, I was ambivalent to the outcome. Guess I figure if JoePa likes Bowden, PSU fans should, too. For one, as I've said before, Bowden deserves to leave Florida State when he wants to -- not when one moneyed trustee thinks Bowden should go.

-- Minnesota, which is up next for Penn State, is an opportunistic team, kind of like Iowa is. But I don't believe the Gophers have the defensive might that Iowa has.

Not sure if we learned much from today's rout of Division I-AA Eastern Illinois. Some observations:

-- Penn State backup QB Kevin Newsome is ultra-quick and will be a better scrambler and runner than Daryll Clark. But Newsome is still very raw as a passer and, alarmingly, fumbled twice at the end of runs. He'll have to adopt the Clark method of using two arms around the ball at the end of runs.

-- What Newsome showed today means that Clark, more than ever, must remain healthy. Big Ten defenses will just play eight in the box on Newsome and force him to pass.

-- True frosh Justin Brown made a nice punt return and had a couple of receptions, including one excellent catch along the sidelines. (If the game wasn't a blowout, the catch would have been reviewed by the replay official and possibly reversed.)

-- Reserve running back Brandon Beachum, a sophomore, showed some very quick feet to go with toughness. Starter Evan Royster picks his way while backup Stephfon Green has pure speed, so Beachum has a different style, and I would like to see him used more. Might have been better, actually, to see Beachum redshirt this year. (If Royster does not turn pro next year, then Beachum definitely should red-shirt in 2010.)

-- True frosh Gerald Hodges, a safety, had a big hit. He probably will be Penn State's hardest hitting D-back since James Boyd. UPDATE: Hodges was moved to outside linebacker.

-- Why in the hell can the Eastern Illinois kicker boom the kickoff into the end zone for two touchbacks in his only two chances, but Penn State's Collin Wagner cannot do it all game despite having about eight tries?

-- Did you notice that through much of the game, the TV broadcast only showed the high-angle view of the press box side of Beaver Stadium? That's because the press box side of the stands was full while the other side had empty seats high in the student section.

-- Playing the starting offense and defense deep into the third quarter must be a conditioning thing for Penn State. But it was unsettling to see Clark take hits in the second half.

-- I believe Penn State escaped with no injuries on Saturday. Knowledge Timmons, the starting corner, apparently is OK even though I saw him limping early in the game.

-- Lion wideouts had two or three instances that, although not necessarily drops, could have been nice, aggressive receptions in traffic. Instead, they were incompletions.

Today's game is little more than a scrimmage, folks, as Penn State has breezed to a 38-0 halftime lead over Eastern Illinois, a Division I-AA college.

Eastern Illinois had only one chance to keep it close for awhile, and that was if starting QB Jake Christensen had a sharp game. But he has not been that accurate.

Penn State, meanwhile, started playing freshmen in its first offensive series, as Justin Brown was out there as wideout. Many more young players have already played in the first half, and expect the second half to be all second- and third- and even fourth-stringers out there. For many, it will be their last chance to play this year until Indiana comes to Happy Valley.

Penn State's offense in the first half did just what it wanted, and that is a bit surprising, because I thought the Panthers would put up a better fight. I didn't realize Penn State's offensive line outweighed the Eastern Illinois D-line by an average of 50 pounds per man.

Such dominance has allowed Penn State to throw a bone to wideout Brett Brackett, who has fallen a bit on the depth chart. Twice the Lions called his number with passes to the end zone. The first pass was incomplete as Daryll Clark waited just a smidge too long to throw the ball and it was batted down by a safety. The second attempt resulted in a short TD reception for Brackett, a vocal leader of the team.

I wonder if Lion starting cornerback Knowledge Timmons got nicked up in the first series of the game, as he limped off the field, and we've seen a lot of A.J. Wallace at corner.

Jared Odrick has had a big first half. Nice to see hard-working linebacker Navorro Bowman score a touchdown.

Eastern Illinois had some success in the short passing game and with the screen pass, but Penn State has adjusted to shut down the screen.

The only other thing worth talking about is the TV announce crew. The play-by-play man Dave Lamont insists on calling Eastern Illinois the Wildcats when its nickname is the Panthers.

Lamont also continuously screws up the year of Penn State players. He must be reading the academic year and not the athletic eligibility year of the Penn State players, as -- for example -- he called Brackett a senior when he in fact has junior eligibility.

Lamont really botched it when he said Penn State tight end Andrew Quarless is a sophomore from Ohio. Quarless is a senior from New York.

Well, back to the carnage. I am eager to see true freshmen Kevin Newsome, Curtis Drake, Devon Smith, Brown, Gerald Hodges and Sean Stanley receive some extended playing time. And I wonder if sophomore running back Brandon Beachum will get about 10 carries in the second half.

As expected, Joe Paterno defended Bobby Bowden last night on his weekly radio show, saying the Florida State coach should "decide what we wants to do now," according to the Associated Press.

Paterno has

defended Bowden (pictured below) in the past.

As for my opinion: Bowden deserves to leave when he wants to leave -- unless there are other major NCAA violations that we do not know about.

Here is the AP story on JoePa talking about Bowden:

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) — Penn State coach Joe Paterno said Florida State’s Bobby Bowden should “decide what he wants to do now” but otherwise refrained from commenting about the future of the Seminoles’ coach.

Responding to a question from a listener Thursday during his weekly radio appearance, the 82-year-old Paterno said the 79-year-old Bowden is a “wonderful person,” and that Bowden has helped build Florida State’s national reputation.

Paterno leads Bowden 387-384 for most wins among major college coaches.

Paterno said he’s trying to avoid news about the future of Bowden, whose tenure came under fire this week after the chairman of the university’s trustees said the coaching staff was in disarray and Bowden should leave after this season.

“I don’t know what’s going on, put it that way, but I certainly think Bobby, being what he’s done, and the kind of person he’s been, he certainly deserves ... he ought to be able to decide what he wants to do now,” Paterno said on the show.

“I don’t know what he wants to do, and I don’t know what (Florida State) wants to do,” Paterno said. “Nobody calls me up, and if they call me up, I say, ’Hey, no comment.’ "

The pressure on Bowden is similar to the pressure Paterno felt earlier this decade when Penn State stumbled through a stretch of four losing seasons in five years. Some fans grumbled then that Paterno should retire.

But No. 14 Penn State has rebounded with four consecutive winning seasons and a share of two Big Ten titles. Paterno, in his 44th year as head coach, is in the first season of a three-year contract extension.

In a statement later in the week, Florida State president T.K. Wetherell said Bowden’s job is safe for now, that offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher will be the next head coach when Bowden leaves, and the university will work with Fisher on an agreement.

The Seminoles (2-3, 0-2 Atlantic Coast) are off to their slowest start since Bowden’s first year as head coach in 1976.

“I’ve tried not in anyway to even learn what’s going on,” Paterno said. “There are personalities that are conflicting obviously as to what should happen.”

What to look for: Expect a somewhat difficult game at first, maybe even a lackluster first half by the Lions as they look past this game. ... Eastern Illinois has former Iowa starting QB Jake Christensen, who won't be intimidated by the crowd -- and the crowd itself won't be jacked up. ... Eastern Illinois is a good Division I-AA team with a winning tradition. It can compete for awhile but not for the entire game as the Lion O-line and D-line eventually dominate the Panthers. ... Although Christensen is an accurate passer and will accumulate stats, he also will be under heavy pressure by Lion D-line. ... Will we see a defensive score by the Lions? ... We hope to know a lot more about Kevin Newsome by 3 p.m. Saturday.

Prediction: Not saying this is Appalachian State-Michigan, but the Lions might have more trouble than they expect, at first. That's a recipe for a relatively close game into the second quarter until the Lions pull away (including a Newsome TD run and TD pass). Penn State 52, Eastern Illinois 10.

If all goes well for Penn State, freshman Kevin Newsome is going to play some quarterback Saturday against Eastern Illinois. That’s what starting quarterback Daryll Clark said on Wednesday.

When did Clark also say that? Five weeks ago, prior to the Lions’ season-opener against Akron. But that day, Clark was in the game during the fourth quarter, as Penn State protected a 24-point lead. Newsome ended up with one series.

Whether Newsome actually gets more meaningful time this week remains to be seen. But at least it’s part of the playbook.

“If everything goes as planned, and Kevin is rewarded with a lot of time this week, he’s going to run it and he’s going to throw it,” Clark said. “Everyone will see the strides he has made. I’m excited for him. I’m excited for his chance.”

The Associated Press today is reporting that Penn State linebacker Michael Zordich waived his preliminary hearing today stemming from a driving under the influence charge.

That means Zordich will go to trial in Centre County court, unless a plea bargain is reached on the misdemeanor charge. The charge stems from a traffic stop by university police on Aug. 30.

The AP also reports that Zordich faces a summary offense charge for driving without headlights. Also of note: Zordich is underage (he turns 20 this month).

With all of the injury woes at linebacker at Penn State, Zordich likely would have played more this year if he hadn't gotten charged with the DUI. He has been a regular on special teams, and with talent and pedigree -- his dad is a Penn State and NFL alum -- Zordich figures to be in the linebacker rotation at some point in his career, possibly next year.

More thoughts on Illinois as we look ahead to Eastern Illinois and also wonder if Brett Favre -- the sports god -- will serve as the Twins' closer vs. the Yankees.

-- I think I think that I can say that Penn State's passing game to the tight end finally is a bonafide weapon.

-- Darryl Clark seems to have a lot of passes tipped by the D-line.

-- Just about ready to say Navorro Bowman (at left at bottom of pile) is all the way back from his injury.

-- Brett Brackett didn't lay out for a long poss along the sideline against Illinois. And Derek Moye was blindsided, forcing his fumble, but so what. Protect the ball.

-- Penn State players seemed to be slipping on the turf field.

-- Penn State's safeties got beat a couple of times again vs. Illinois, and State defense gave up 222 total yards in the first half. On the other hand, the defense has not given up a first-half TD all year. I'll even say the secondary had good coverage vs. Illinois.

-- The officiating was spotty. (Not to get started on the refs, but what the hell is a blog for?) The litany of gripes:

(1) There were a couple of bad spots in Illinois' favor.

(2) State's Graham Zug made a nice first-half catch that was ruled an incompletion and not overturned by the replay official. I was fairly certain the replay was conclusive that it was indeed a catch. But even if the replay wasn't conclusive, that's still no excuse. Get the damn call correct the first time.

(3) At least three holds on State D-linemen were missed, including one on D-end Eric Latimore and another on D-end Jack Crawford.

(4) Officials missed a pass interference by Illinois committed on Lions' Chaz Powell as he raced along the sideline.

(5) Officials missed a late hit on Daryll Clark, a hit that appeared to hurt Clark, although apparently not seriously.

Penn State issued this news release today about traffic being diverted around Beaver Stadium.

University Park, Pa. -- High winds have caused some panels to dislodge from the Beaver Stadium south end scoreboard. For safety reasons, portions of Porter and Curtin roads, which border the stadium, are being closed until the wind advisory is lifted.

Porter Road is closed to all vehicular traffic from Dauer Drive near Medlar Field at Lubrano Park, to Park Avenue. Curtin Road is closed to vehicular traffic from University Drive to Porter Road. Police are urging pedestrians and bicyclists also to avoid the area for safety reasons. CATA is rerouting buses to avoid the area as well.

As part of work on the scoreboard in the south end of Beaver Stadium this week, panels on the roof of the scoreboard and those above the video screen were loosened for removal and replacement. Today's high winds caused some of those panels to dislodge and fly out of the stadium. There has been some damage to at least one car in an adjacent parking lot, and one panel landed in the roadway. Because other panels remain unstable, a safety hazard remains. The panels cannot be secured because the high winds make it too dangerous for workers to be on the scoreboard.

Repairs like these can be costly. Perhaps eight home games aren't a bad idea after all.